Bush addresses the world- Pending War

[Dúnedain]

Here is the leader of the opposition party (Iraqi National Congress, those Iraqi exiles who will be reforming the new Iraq) and his thoughts on the UN:

http://www.inc.org.uk/p_en/news/archives/00001311.htm

03/27/2003 : "UN too weak for major post-war role in Iraq: opposition leader"

LONDON (AFP) - Iraqi opposition leader Ahmad Chalabi spoke out against a major role for the United Nations in a post-war Iraq.

Chalabi, who heads the London-based Iraqi National Congress (INC) umbrella opposition group, said in an interview in the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "The UN is too weak to deal with de-Baathification (getting rid of the ruling Baath party), the destruction of weapons of mass destruction" and the dismantling of Saddam Hussein's security services.

"The UN would be hamstrung. Iraq is far too big and important," Chalabi said.

"The UN's record on Iraq has been abysmal and the Iraqi people have little confidence in the UN," he added.

Chalabi said he wanted allied troops to remain after the war until a referendum and then elections were held to establish democracy and independence.

Speaking from Dokan, northern Iraq, Chalabi hailed the US and British advance into Iraq, even if he said that "the coalition has not been able to win the confidence of the Iraqi people, who feel completely disempowered.

"The only ones who can mobilise the Iraqi people are the opposition, and so far there is little role for us in this war," Chalabi said.

He said the opposition could provide vital intelligence for the allied forces, based on "frequent and detailed contacts" with networks of sources inside all the areas under Saddam's control.

Claiming that his organisation had "tens of thousands of fighters throughout the country", Chalabi said the opposition was now unified and ready to take part in a war of liberation.

"We can start a second front in northern Iraq very quickly, provided that the coalition takes practical steps towards military coordination. It is long overdue.

"The leadership of the opposition are in a position to declare a provisional government, which could play a very important role in dealing with the security situation," Chalabi said.

Funny, even the Iraqis who will be forming the new Iraq don't want the UN...